BMW CEO: We Won't Abandon Internal Combustion Engines
Oliver Zipse, CEO of the German automotive giant BMW, stated late last summer that the company cannot give a definite date for moving away from internal combustion engines. He explained that sales of cars with internal combustion engines are still very strong, and customer demand remains high in growing markets like China and the United States. Therefore, the company is not giving up on them.
Additionally, BMW announced that it is close to achieving its 15% BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) sales target for this year. It also noted that its electric vehicle sales have surpassed competitors such as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche, with electric models making up about 11% of all sales. However, Oliver Zipse, who has long supported investing in technology to reduce carbon emissions, stated, "There is no sign that the world will abandon vehicles with internal combustion engines." Unlike competitors Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, BMW is not ready to set an end date for internal combustion engines. Mr. Zipse concluded the press conference, responding to the six-month results by saying, "It is still too early."
BMW has decided, like its competitors Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz, not to set a definitive date for ending internal combustion engine production, reflecting a cautious approach to industry developments. Given the low demand for electric vehicles in the U.S. and the reluctance to invest in BEVs, Europeans are starting to reconcile their long-held dreams of electric vehicles with market realities. Frank van Meel, CEO of BMW's M performance division, also emphasized that, unlike Mercedes-AMG, which opted for a four-cylinder hybrid engine over a V8 in the C63 AMG, BMW has no intention of exaggerating the downsizing issue. He stated that they are not giving up on V8 engines and will continue to use six-cylinder engines in their iconic models. While BMW aims to make these models more efficient and responsive by continuing to use electric motors, he noted that electric vehicle technology is not yet advanced enough to produce track-ready cars.